Comments on: Tuesday’s column: They’re blasting Rep. Morgan Griffith’s survey

By: David Griffiths

David Griffiths — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:12:15 +0000

So when can we expect to see the results of the survey?

By: terps

terps — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:29:27 +0000

GDAD
It was a public matter but I would prefer to keep my identity private and that it is why I don’t divulge the details. I understand it is confusing without the details. It is a great story that maybe some day I’ll have the chance to tell you.
Kristen
As Dan can attest, this was a circumstance where the government would not get out of the way. All I was asking from the government was the freedom to raise the quality and lower the prices for my customers. But I will admit, as Dan will also attest to, that the government is good to me and helps me make a good living. I don’t hate the government. I just don’t want unbridled government dictating my every move in life.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:59:05 +0000

So, am I getting that terps is dependent on the government for his success? Who built that, then.

By: gdad

gdad — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:41:13 +0000

Thanks, Dan, I amend my comment to “made you a pile of money” (which I have no objection to).

By: Sandi Saunders

Sandi Saunders — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:41:06 +0000

When it pays off, it is not a risk. The market rewards that as smart. So does politics to a point. Just think folks, if this whatever had gone badly, we would have terps to thank for ending Griffith’s career.

By: Dan Casey

Dan Casey — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:37:11 +0000

I think what terps meant was not that what Griffith did cost him dearly, politically, but that it was politically risky. I would agree with that. And gdad, I don’t believe it made terps “rich” — he was already doing quite well, and “rich” is a very relative term anyway. But it made him a pile of money.

–dan

By: gdad

gdad — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:51:42 +0000

BTW, terps, I’ve had just one brief encounter with Griffith (although I HAVE had others tell me that in real life — outside of the political arena — he’s a nice guy) and to me it was a quick, small example of how he didn’t want to do the hard things because it might hamper his political ambitions. When we chatted for a moment more than three years ago during his last GA campaign, he wanted to know what I was thinking about the upcoming GA session. I told him that I thought that one thing legislators needed to do was suck it up and do something about investing more in transportation and infrastructure. He agreed and assured me the GA was “headed in the right direction.” This was when Bobby McD was telling us that tolls and tariffs on drilling that wouldn’t happen for at least 10 years were the answers to all our prayers.

During the subsequent session, of course, absolutely zero was done. Just like in all the sessions under Griffith’s leadership. And, IMO, that was because Griffith was too afraid to do what needed — and still needs — to be done.

One of the nicest, straightest shooting politicians I’ve ever known was Dave Nutter. But the Repubs essentially kicked him to the curb because he worked with Dems to get a badly needed increase in revenues to replace the huge hole created by Gilmore’s car tax debacle. BTW, he told me years ago about how the whole transportation funding model was in trouble, and he also predicted that the GA would sit on it hands.

By: gdad

gdad — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:34:52 +0000

terps, I’m sure I would understand better if I knew the whole story, but this thing has gotten bizarre. From the point of view of those of us in the dark, what you seem to be saying is that Morgan somehow singlehandedly (or nearly so) against the wishes of all other politicians in the state did something that saved some unidentified people some money and also ended up creating a business opportunity that made you rich (that alone would be reason enough for you to like the guy).

You say this somehow cost Griffith dearly politically but all the rest of us can see is that after he performed this mystery miracle, he became the GA House leader and then won a seat in Congress. Are you saying that he might have been a senator or president by now if he hadn’t been so brave? Yes, there’s a little sarcasm in that comment, but, seriously, for most of us it’s pretty hard to see any downside for Griffith from what you’ve said.

You also say that you’re uncomfortable going into detail on the blog, but it sounds to me like Griffith did something legal on a public bill in full view of voters, so why the shyness about it?

And then, terps, there’s this: “Would we all prefer that those 30 people attend OWS rallys looking for handouts?”

So you seem to be saying that without you, your 30 employees would be so devoid of smarts, opportunity, and ambition that they’d all be living on the dole and doing god knows what in Elmwood Park? That without you, they would all be jobless? Really? You’re that much of a miracle worker?

By: Vaneta McAlexander

Vaneta McAlexander — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:02:48 +0000

I was so mad when I saw that survey. It helps to know there are others out there that were equally insulted. I actually scribbled all over it and gave real answers which I am sure no one will bother to read but I just could not put it in the trashcan without making some statement. That one survey did more to change my opinion about Griffith than any of the negative adds run during the campaign. It’s what we used to call “shooting yourself in your own foot”!

By: Sandi Saunders

Sandi Saunders — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 21:52:58 +0000

I am sorry, but there was no cost he paid that I can tell and you can articulate so it seems to me he did you a favor when no one else would and it cost him nothing and gained him a real champion. I do not see any downside and you cannot point to any.